CableCard Purchase

Does anybody know where I can purchase a CableCard from, other than the cable company. My cable company (Service Electric Cablevision Sunbury PA) wants 125.00 apiece, and they will not rent them out. Thanks, Dan

My cable company charged me $100 each for my cable cards. Metrocast my cable company said that by law they could charge up to 10% over there cost for the cards and that Motorola was charging them $90 each for the cards.

My cable company charged me $100 each for my cable cards. Metrocast my cable company said that by law they could charge up to 10% over there cost for the cards and that Motorola was charging them $90 each for the cards.

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I too have Metrocast. That sounds like a bunch of BS. Did you try complaining to the local franchise commity? They can be found on the back of your bill! Let me know!

I would buy them then sue. If they can leaglly charge 10% over cost and they cost $90 then that is 10%+$1. So by law they would be up S creek without a paddle. Technically. And you might as well take those battles because sadly it sounds like these cable companies and bending you over the table.

I called Blue Ridge Cable TV today to find out how they handle CableCards. I get one card free as a part of my HD package, and the second card is just charged as an additional active house outlet (small fee). This seemed very reasonable.

I talked to service electric cable and they said there cost is a little under 100.00 per card. 125.00 to me. Also there will be an additional monthly service fee of 2.00 for any service I have encrypted on the second card. ( in other words 2.00 extra for HBO, 2.00 extra for cinimax, 2.00 extra for upper digital tier channels.) He also stated maybe the reason the other cable co. are charging less is they may have a large inventory of cards and are getting rid of them before the next generation cards come out and these become obsolete. He only keeps 10 cards in stock. At this point I don't know what to think. The additional charge on the second card is hard to swallow considering the cards will be going into only one dvr.
Any thoughts or suggestions, I would like to buy an S3 and transfer my S2 lifetime.
Thanks, Dan

I talked to service electric cable and they said there cost is a little under 100.00 per card. 125.00 to me. Also there will be an additional monthly service fee of 2.00 for any service I have encrypted on the second card. ( in other words 2.00 extra for HBO, 2.00 extra for cinimax, 2.00 extra for upper digital tier channels.) He also stated maybe the reason the other cable co. are charging less is they may have a large inventory of cards and are getting rid of them before the next generation cards come out and these become obsolete. He only keeps 10 cards in stock. At this point I don't know what to think. The additional charge on the second card is hard to swallow considering the cards will be going into only one dvr.
Any thoughts or suggestions, I would like to buy an S3 and transfer my S2 lifetime.
Thanks, Dan

Have you talked to TiVo about this? TiVo has specialists for dealing with cable companies, and they obviously know the requirements. My impression remains that cablecards have to be made available for a nominal monthly fee (no purchase) unless the company has applied for a waiver.

My cable company charged me $100 each for my cable cards. Metrocast my cable company said that by law they could charge up to 10% over there cost for the cards and that Motorola was charging them $90 each for the cards.

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Then they are overcharging, since 10% of $90 is $9, so they can only legally charge $99.

Hey Dan. I am in the same boat you are. I have Service Electric in Hazleton. When I inquired about cable cards I was told they don't lease them, they are only available for purchase at $125.00 per cable card. They also stated if I were to purchase one, I could take it with me if I were to move to another provider.

Since they are the only cable company in the area, I am outta luck. Don't know if I want to spend $800.00 for a Tivo + 250.00 for two cableCARD's + $299 for the TIVO service

I am sorry they told me that Motorola charged them about $90. There actual cost is probably $90.91. They originally told me they were $150 each, but after I questioned that price they said that $150 included a $50 installation fee for each card. I finally got them to wave the installation fees and got the 2 cards for $100 each.

The worst part is that one of my 2 cards is no longer able to tune the premium channels and they want to charge me $50 to come look at it. When I have more time I am going to have to call them back and see what I can work out with a supervisor.

I've seen supported arguments both ways; I'll see if I can find the contrary evidence (I was looking at cablecard TV threads a year ago). My recollection was it had something to do with their plans once they started issuing cablecards for their own equipment (they can't rent out cablecards to their own equipment and sell cablecards for 3rd party equipment, or something like that).

My recollection was it had something to do with their plans once they started issuing cablecards for their own equipment (they can't rent out cablecards to their own equipment and sell cablecards for 3rd party equipment, or something like that).

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Yes, there are some other regulations that come in to play if cable companies are renting out CableCards to use in their own equipment.

Have you talked to TiVo about this? TiVo has specialists for dealing with cable companies, and they obviously know the requirements. My impression remains that cablecards have to be made available for a nominal monthly fee (no purchase) unless the company has applied for a waiver.

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CrispyCritter
I did talk to tivo, they said there is not much they could do, and that I should talk to my cable company to try to work it out.

Tivo is attempting to show the cable companies that they can be a good ally in helping them become more competitive to satellite offerings.

Since we as consumers have mechanisms to enforce our user rights, the most Tivo can do anyway is help us understand what those rights are, and how best to see that our rights are not trampled.

The steps appear to be

Contact the cable provider. If that fails to resolve, then

Contact the local franchise authority. If they have no authority, or the issue is still open then

Contact the FCC

It would be nice if they would provide a service telling us what the process and how to fight the battle ourselves, but we can figure this out for ourselves. Besides, it is not hard to see they are a mouse walking amidst dinosaurs, so it is hard to fault them for being wary about taking such a role.

They have a full set of fronts to fight on, they don't need to pick more battles to fight that we can fight ourselves. One ally that is much less fetterred is the consumer electronics agency. I have contacted them over the issue of assymetrical pricing for content and access fees.